Caritas delivers relief aid to flood-hit areas of Sri Lanka

UCAN: Caritas and other Christian groups are distributing relief aid to Sri Lankan disaster victims amid floods, landslides and lightning strikes attributed to the annual southwest monsoon.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, nearly 128,000 people have been affected in 19 districts, with 16 deaths and one person reported missing.

The Chilaw diocese is one of the worst-affected, with heavy rains and strong winds causing havoc.

Director of Caritas Chilaw, Janasaviya Father Anton Wyman Croos visited flood victims in many hard-hit areas.

Some places could not be reached because of flooding, but food parcels were distributed to about 250 people, Father Croos said.

Dry rations will be collected at parish level on Sunday in the Chilaw diocese.

More than 37,000 displaced people have taken refuge in 163 evacuation centres, including at some churches. “Many have lost their livelihoods,” Father Croos said.

Hundreds of animals have been taken away by the flooding, and there is an ongoing threat to both dairy farmers and cultivating farmers.

Spill gates of Thabbowa Reservoir in Father Croos’ diocese were opened as the water level continued to rise.

Police and military search and rescue operations are continuing.

In 2017, more than 200 people were killed and 78 people went missing when the monsoon caused severe floods and landslides across the country.